Indian batter Ishan Kishan on Thursday (9th June) said that he can’t ask the "world-class" batters Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul to "drop themselves" from playing XI in order to accommodate him.
Although Team India lost the first T20I against South Africa, there were quite a few positives for them. Batting at the top in the absence of Rohit and Rahul, Kishan, who is seen as the opener by BCCI, rose to the expectations and provided his team with a staggering start.
Kishan played one of his best knocks in the T20Is and scored a magnificent 76 in 48 balls. He did struggle initially and started slowly but he raised the bar quickly and took South African bowlers to the cleaners.
The hosts rode on his thunderous knock as he provide the platform for other batters to express themselves. Along with his knock vital contributions from Ruturaj Gaikwad (23), Shreyas Iyer (36) and Rishabh Pant (29) and Hardik Pandya (31*) helped them post a mammoth total of 211 runs on the board.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Kishan said he can’t ask for a spot from ‘world-class players’ Rohit and Rahul.
"I think they (Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul) are world-class players and I won't ask for my spot when they are there in the team. They have scored so many runs for our country, I cannot ask them to drop themselves and make me play in the first place," Ishan Kishan said.
Kishan said that selection in the team is not in his hands. He only focused on his job, which is to give his best whenever he gets the opportunity
"My job here is to give my best in the practice session. Whenever I get my opportunity, I have to prove myself or do well for the team. I focus more on that on what I have to do. I have to keep doing my thing, it's up to the selectors and the coaches whatever they think, but my job is to give my best whenever I get my chance," he said.
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Kishan talked about the conditions and said that he planned to target the loose balls and put pressure on bowlers. He added that they need to address a few things in their bowling as well as the fielding department going into the next match.
“We knew that the wicket is not easy for the batters to get going. My plan was to target the loose balls and put pressure on the bowlers. So, that they are also thinking and move their line and length.
“We need to address what mistakes we did with the bowling department or if it's the fielding department, but it's never any one player who, you know, makes us lose the match. So we'll figure out everything as a team," he said.
After India posted a mammoth total of 211 runs on the board and picked up three South African wickets at regular intervals, it almost seemed that they would win the game easily.
But Miller came out all guns blazing and made Indian bowlers look clueless. Batting at No.5, the southpaw struck 64* off just 31 deliveries and stitched an unbeaten 131-run partnership with Rassie van der Dussen, who scored 75*, to take his side home.
(PTI inputs)
